
A Vietnam veteran participates in an anti-war protest in front of the White House on December 16, 2010 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
63% of US Veterans Support Afghanistan Withdrawal: Poll
"Veterans know the cost of war, so it should come as no surprise that they strongly back President Biden's decision to end the war in Afghanistan."
Survey results released Tuesday show that nearly two-thirds of U.S. veterans support the ongoing withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, a finding that came as President Joe Biden reportedly decided to stick with the August 31 exit deadline.
"Veterans strongly believe President Biden is right--it is time to go."
According to a poll (pdf) commissioned by the advocacy group VoteVets, 63% of U.S. veterans believe that "it is time for America to bring troops home from Afghanistan and end the war."
Just 24%, by contrast, think the U.S. should "continue the war in Afghanistan and send more troops in to retake the country from the Taliban," the survey shows.
"Veterans know the cost of war, so it should come as no surprise that they strongly back President Biden's decision to end the war in Afghanistan," Mary Kaszynski, director of government relations for VoteVets, said in a statement. "Veterans strongly believe President Biden is right--it is time to go."
The survey results--which also show that 65% of all registered voters in the U.S. support the Afghanistan exit--were published as CNN reported Tuesday that Biden has opted to "stick with the August 31 deadline for withdrawing troops" despite pressure from some European allies to push the date back.
"Biden made the decision mindful of the security risks in remaining the country longer... and he has asked for contingency plans in case he determines at a later date the U.S. needs to remain in the country for longer," CNN reported, citing an anonymous administration official.
The president's decision came a day after Taliban leaders made clear they would reject any U.S. attempt to extend the withdrawal deadline, describing any such effort as a further prolonging of the two-decade occupation.
Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the anti-war group CodePink, tweeted Tuesday that she is "glad to hear that Biden is sticking to the August 31 deadline to get out of Afghanistan."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Survey results released Tuesday show that nearly two-thirds of U.S. veterans support the ongoing withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, a finding that came as President Joe Biden reportedly decided to stick with the August 31 exit deadline.
"Veterans strongly believe President Biden is right--it is time to go."
According to a poll (pdf) commissioned by the advocacy group VoteVets, 63% of U.S. veterans believe that "it is time for America to bring troops home from Afghanistan and end the war."
Just 24%, by contrast, think the U.S. should "continue the war in Afghanistan and send more troops in to retake the country from the Taliban," the survey shows.
"Veterans know the cost of war, so it should come as no surprise that they strongly back President Biden's decision to end the war in Afghanistan," Mary Kaszynski, director of government relations for VoteVets, said in a statement. "Veterans strongly believe President Biden is right--it is time to go."
The survey results--which also show that 65% of all registered voters in the U.S. support the Afghanistan exit--were published as CNN reported Tuesday that Biden has opted to "stick with the August 31 deadline for withdrawing troops" despite pressure from some European allies to push the date back.
"Biden made the decision mindful of the security risks in remaining the country longer... and he has asked for contingency plans in case he determines at a later date the U.S. needs to remain in the country for longer," CNN reported, citing an anonymous administration official.
The president's decision came a day after Taliban leaders made clear they would reject any U.S. attempt to extend the withdrawal deadline, describing any such effort as a further prolonging of the two-decade occupation.
Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the anti-war group CodePink, tweeted Tuesday that she is "glad to hear that Biden is sticking to the August 31 deadline to get out of Afghanistan."
Survey results released Tuesday show that nearly two-thirds of U.S. veterans support the ongoing withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, a finding that came as President Joe Biden reportedly decided to stick with the August 31 exit deadline.
"Veterans strongly believe President Biden is right--it is time to go."
According to a poll (pdf) commissioned by the advocacy group VoteVets, 63% of U.S. veterans believe that "it is time for America to bring troops home from Afghanistan and end the war."
Just 24%, by contrast, think the U.S. should "continue the war in Afghanistan and send more troops in to retake the country from the Taliban," the survey shows.
"Veterans know the cost of war, so it should come as no surprise that they strongly back President Biden's decision to end the war in Afghanistan," Mary Kaszynski, director of government relations for VoteVets, said in a statement. "Veterans strongly believe President Biden is right--it is time to go."
The survey results--which also show that 65% of all registered voters in the U.S. support the Afghanistan exit--were published as CNN reported Tuesday that Biden has opted to "stick with the August 31 deadline for withdrawing troops" despite pressure from some European allies to push the date back.
"Biden made the decision mindful of the security risks in remaining the country longer... and he has asked for contingency plans in case he determines at a later date the U.S. needs to remain in the country for longer," CNN reported, citing an anonymous administration official.
The president's decision came a day after Taliban leaders made clear they would reject any U.S. attempt to extend the withdrawal deadline, describing any such effort as a further prolonging of the two-decade occupation.
Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the anti-war group CodePink, tweeted Tuesday that she is "glad to hear that Biden is sticking to the August 31 deadline to get out of Afghanistan."

